Lighting structure



Jan. 5, 1932. J, AC Y 1,839,465

LIGHTING STRUCTURE Filed Sept. 18, 19:50

gww/nkoz 25 I jig (/ZSPIYA Patented Jan. 5, 1932 UNITED' STATES PATENTOFFICE.

JOSEPH A. COY, 0F NORWOOD, OHIO, LASSIGNOR TO THE WADSWORTH ELECTRICMANU- FAUDURIN G COMPANY, OF COVINGTON', KENTUCKY, A. CORPORATION OFKENTUCKY LIGHTING STRUCTURE Application ill-ed September 18, 1930.Serial No. 482,763.

This invention relates to means for illuminating a defined area.

An object of the invention is to provide such means which effect auniform distribution of light.

Another object is to provide means by which the illuminated area may berestricted or enlarged by simple adjustments.

Another object is to provide means for readily changing the intensity'ofillumination without affecting the even diffusion of 1i ht.

Another object is the provision of ventilating means for carrying offthe heat developed by the lighting elements.

Another object is to provide means of the class described which comprisea minimum of parts and which are inexpensively manufactured and easilyassembled by persons unskilled in such work.

These and other objects are attained by the means described herein andset forth in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a fragmental perspective view of assembled li hting means ofthe present invention, wit parts broken away.

Figs. 2 and 3 are fragmental perspective views of means used formodifying the area of illumination.

Fig. 4 is an end elevational view of means of this invention as appliedto a built-in form of lighting trough.

Fig. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view through one of thereceptacles and support means of the present invention.

.Fig. 6 is an edge View of one of the louvers provided herein.

Figs. 7 and 8 are fragmental perspective views of modified louvermeansof this invention.

Fig. 9 is a detail view of an end plate.

Heretofore the installation of windowlighting fixtures has been aproblem to be worked out by the individual skilled workman orelectrician. The means and methods have been various and consequentlyinvolved and expensive. The chief expedient heretofore has been toprovide a channel opening in the ceiling of show windows along the frontand -having pre-arranged louver units secured in the bottom of thechannel after positioning of the lamp sockets, reflectors and lamps. Theadjacent louver units were provided with end abutment frames which casta shadow at various places in the lighted area. A still more'unevenlighting efl'ect resulted from the use of the simple reflector and lamp.

This invention overcomes these diificulties by providing an invertedtroughhaving a narrow ledge at each lower edge for receiving a series ofself-spacing louvers above which the lighting and reflector means aresituated. Interchangeable reflectors are provided for one side wherebythe angle and area of illumination are made adjustable. Means arelikewise provided for supporting the light globes at the correct leveldespite the use of the various sized globes in changing the intensity ofillumination.

With reference to the drawings The up er structure consists of a plate10 having ateral, downwardly-projecting flanges 11. Side walls 12 and 13are suitably secured to said flanges. Angle strips 14 are oppositelydisposed at pre-determined levels, upon the inner faces of walls 12 and13. A. curved reflector panel 15 is secured upon the lower edge of wall12. Panel 15 normally constitutes the front or constant reflector of thedevice. A. reflector panel 16, of less convexity than panel 15, isremovably secured upon the lower edge of wall 13. Both panels areprovided at their lower edges with the inwardly and horizontallyprojecting flanges or ledges 17 and 18 A support plate 19 having thecentral longitudinal aperture 20 therein, is adapted to be supportedhorizontally upon one of the pairs of strips 14. A receptacle 21 isadapted to be positioned upon the upper face of plate 19, with its lowerportion 22 projecting downwardly through aperture 20. Portion 22 hasattached therein the lamp receiving socket 23, the inner face of whichthreadedly receives the stem of the li ht globe and the outer face ofwhich threadedly receives the fastening member 24. Receptacle21 isprovided with a removable lid 25, for permitting access to the wiringwithin, and with perforations 26 for allowing passage of the wires fromone receptacle to the next. It is obvious that receptacles 21 may bemoved longitudinally of support plate 19 for suitably spacing a greateror lesser number of globes. In the event that a set of lamps of greaterlength than, for example, the one shown in Fig. 1, is to be used, thenthe support plate 19 is positioned upon the uppermost pair of strips 14,or if the lamps are shorter, then the lowermost pair of strips isutilized, so that the lamp filaments will be held in such positionrelative to the reflector panels that the light will be properlydeflected. It should be noted that an induced current of air may bepassed through the channel provided between plates 19 and 10 and walls12 and 13 whereby the heat generated by the electric lamps may beeflectively carried off.

The louvers 27 comprise each a flat strip, preferably of metal andhaving an inwardly ofi'set spacing arm 28 at each end, the armsextending from opposite sides of the strip. Louvers 27 are adapted to bepositioned edgewise upon the flanges 17 and 18, the end of each arm 28contacting a face of the ad acent louver for efi'ecting uniform spacing.Modified louver means are illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8. In the one,(Fig. 7) the spacing arms 29 are adapted to lie flat upon flanges 17 and18 and are provided with end ears 30 for abutting the adjacent louver.The ends of the louver strip are rounded on the upper portions to'preclude interference with the reflector panels when the louvers aretilted, as will be explained. In Fig. 8, the toothed, upwardlyprojecting flange 31 is substituted for the flanges 17 and 18. Each endof the modified louver 32 is received between a pair of the flangeteeth, being provided with the end projections 33 for this purpose.

For increasing the area of illumination as effected by the structure inFig. 1, two panels,

' 34 and 35 respectively, of less width than panel 16, are provided.Their approximate relationships with constant panel 15, are shown indotted lines, Fig. 1 and in Figs. 2 and 3. Panels 34 and 35 are attachedto wall 13 in the same way as panel 16. Panel 34 effects a limited, andpanel 35, a greater increase in the area illuminated. The sets oflouvers used with panels 34 and 35 are preferably made with short endsections 36 extending parallel with one another but in planes spacedapart a distance corresponding to that between constant flange 17 andthe flange 18 of the removable panels 34 and 35, respectively, when inposition.

In Fig. 4 the last-explained type of louver is shown as used with abuilt-in trough 37 having the ordinary reflector 38 positioned therein.In this case the louver supporting means on one wall may consist of the.ribbon strip 39 while the opposite wall may be provided with one or witha plurality of molding strips 40 at different heights. The lightingapparatus of this invention is adapted to be manufactured in convenientlengths which may be joined to form a unit of greater length by a slightoverlapping at the ends of walls 12 and 13 and reflectors 15 and 16,these being joined by means of suitable clamps or bolts passing throughperforations 41. At the ends of the installed unit, end plates 42, (Fig.9) may be positioned by utilizing the same perforations. The lightnessof the material used for the device renders such adjustments easilyeffected.

What is claimed is:

l. Illuminating means comprising an inverted trough member having sideportions forming light reflectors, means in the upper part of saidmember for adjustably suspending lighting elements between saidreflectors, supporting means at the bottoms of said reflectors andlouvers comprising strip members adapted to be mounted upon said supportmeans transversely of the trough member.

2. Illuminating means comprising an inverted trough member comprisingdownwardly depending side walls with an upper cover plate attachedthereto, a reflector panel secured to the lower edge of one ofsaidwalls, removable reflector panels of different widths adapted to beselectively attached to the lower edge of the other of said walls forvarying the area of illumination, an apertured support plate positionedbetween said side walls, means for disposing said plate in adjustedpositions, a receptacle supportable upon said plate and having a socketportion adapted to project downwardly through the aperture of said platefor suspending a lighting element between said reflector panels,

support means on the bottoms of said reflector panels and louversadapted to be supported by said means transversely of the trough memberand comprising strips' with laterally projecting arms at the endsthereof for disposing said strips in edgewise position and for abuttingadj acently-positioned strips to effect uniform spacing of the louvers.

3. A lighting trough comprising a pair of spaced walls with alongitudinally-extending 1 cover plate removably attached thereto andforming a third wall, means associated with said walls for suspendinglighting elements at variable distances below said walls, a reflectorpanel secured to the free, longitudinal edge of one of said walls, andremovable reflector panels of different widths adapted to be selectivelyattached to the free longitudinal edge of the other of said walls forvarying the illuminated area controlled by the reflector trough.

4. A lighting trough comprising a pair of spaced walls with alongitudinally-extending cover plate removably attached thereto, a

reflector panel secured to the free longitudinal edge of one of saidwalls, removable re flector panels of different widths adapted tobe'selectively attached to the free longitudinal edge of the other ofsaid walls for varying the angle of illumination controlled by thereflector panels, oppositely disposed support members secured upon theinner faces of said walls, an apertured plate member "adapted to besupported upon selected pairs upon said flanges transversely of thetrough and comprising strips with laterally project- V ing arms at theends thereof for holding said strips in edgewise position and forabutting adjacently-positioned strips to effect uniform spacing of thelouvers.

6. The combination of a lighting trough having downwardly-depending sidepanels, ledge members disposed at difierent heights upon and extendinglongitudinally of the inner faces of said panels, and louvers adapted tobe supported upon said ledges transversely of the trough and comprisingstrips with laterally-projecting arms atthe ends thereof for holding thestrips in edgewise positions relative to the ledges and for abuttingadjacently-positioned strips to ef, fect uniform positioning of thelouvers.

7. The combination with a lighting trough having downwardly-dependingside panels, of a continuous slotted support at the bottom edge of eachpanel, and louvers adapted panels and means comprising a series ofindependent louver strips and means to effect uniform spacing of thelouvers and adjustment thereof longitudinally of the lighting trough. Ii

10. In an illuminating apparatus a pair of spaced sidewalls, areceptacle supporting apertured plate vertically adjustable between saidwalls, receptacles adjustable longitudinally on the apertured plate,lamps in said receptacles and depending below the plate, wiring disposedin the channel between the side walls and above the plate, means forclosing the top of said channel and reflector panels depending from thebottom edges of said sidewalls.

11. In a device for producing continuous lighting, troughs ofindeterminate length comprlsing side wall members having verticallyspaced plate supporting ledges, top cover members, an apertured plate onthe ledges, lamp receptacle members supported in longitudinallyadjustable relation on the apertured plate,reflector panels dependingfrom the sidewalls and adapted for end to end mounting with similarreflector panels, end walls for the trough so developed and independent,self spacing louvers supported by and extending transversely o-f -theopen bottom of said trough.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 12th dayof September,

JOSEPH A. 001'.

to be supported by said means transversely of the trough and comprising,strips with endwise'projections thereon, said projections being adaptedto be received each in a pair of slots whereby the. louvers may beselectively spaced and retained in endwise positions across the openingbetween the panels.

8. In an illuminating device the combination of a lighting trough openat bottom, illuminating means in the trough, reflectors in said trough,flange members disposed adj acent the bottom of the trough, a pluralityof independent individual louvers extendin across the open bottom of thetrough and supported by said flanges, and means for effecting uniformparallel spacing of said louvers.

9. In combination a lighting trough comprising reflector panels, meansreceiving and positioning a lighting element between said

